Chapter 14: Smuggler of illness

His feet immersed in the mud, a grandfather carries a young child on his frail shoulders. He walks slowly, careful at every step.

The young boy hums a cheerful but ominous sound in the thick mist.

His legs blithely beat the old man's chest to the rhythm of the melody.

The swamp around them seems petrified in time. The branches of trees with black bark, have the appearance of clawed hands reaching towards the gray sky.

A few crows croak on the dead trunks that litter the place.

The duo find a firmer ground, and with difficulty, the grandfather bends down to pick up a long stick.

He leans on it, panting, and the boy, as if to encourage him, sings.

His youthful voice is haunting.

-There was a rat, which got lost in the cellar ~

The man stands up and resumes his walk. His stick converted into a cane hits the ground in front of him. A few ominous birds snort above them, and stare at them with black eyes.

The clouds are sinking, covering the faint rays of the sun.

-There was everything, but nothing fat enough ~

The old man's leather boots sink lightly into the earth with a muffled noise. The kid has a full fabric bag slung over his shoulder, he holds it with one hand while his other arm encircles the grandfather's neck.

His hair is made only of knots, his chin rests on the gray hair of the old man. Pink lips sketch a teasing smile on his little face.l while he sings.

-Sad he goes upstairs, where there is everything ~

The grandfather has a dark face, his eyes scan the surroundings at the slightest sound. At first, there was only trees, puddles of water and brownish ponds around them. Dead trunks, crows, and tall yellow flowers.

But now the forest is clearing as the mist thickens. the fog drastically reduces their field of vision, in front of them there is only white.

The cane hits the bark of a tree, allowing the grandfather to avoid it in time.

-But nothing is fresh enough, so the rat goes up~ up to the second floor with interest ~

A toad avoids being crushed by the old man's sole and leaps eagerly over the brown boot. He croaks in panic and when he disappears in the mist, other toads answer him.

-He finds a cradle there, and the baby inside meets the rat. It's sad~it's sad~

A lake with a black surface, like an obsidian pearl appears little by little. The shore on the other side is barely visible in the fog. It's only a vague shadow in the distance.

There is a gray stain advancing towards the duo, the wet sound of oars hitting the water accompanies the child's song.

-Because the baby is fresh and fat! ~

The boat is now clearly visible but it does not dock. Someone gets up on the boat and it rocks slightly under the movement. This person wears a hooded robe of midnight blue, which blends into the landscape like a specter haunting the lake.

The smuggler's face is carefully concealed. The hand which he extends in the direction of the grandfather and the child is a rotten mess. He has only three long fingers, slightly bluish, the other two fingers being nothing more than bone.

The ferryman asks;

-The payment.

The grandfather glances at the boy on his shoulders. The child throws the bag he was holding on the ground.

Under the movement, his sleeve reveals on his forearm a black blue spot where his flesh seems to rot.

With a flop the satchel hits the mud splashing the old man's pants. The cord which closed the bag relaxes and two bulging eyes appear on a head eaten by larvaes with bluish skin.

- One death for two passengers.

End of the short story: "Smuggler of illness" .

Six nightmares with this one included to go before you can ask for your most dearest wish!

Please, keep in your head all the hints! Guest of the horror, please awaken and survive!